St. Landry democrat., 1887-02-26
PRAIRIE HAYES, LA, Feb. 2lst, 1887.

interest of the people of the new par
ish of Acadia; in selecting the most
suitable place for the parish seat and
Court House soon to be appointed by |
the popular votes of the people; at |
present there seems to be three separ-
ate points. each in turn claiming for
itself the possession of all the ntces-
sary qualifications to make the, enter
prise a success to the parish and serve |
the best and most lasting interests OF
the people. But after calm and un- |
preiudiced survey of the whole matter
placing to the credit Of each place any
and all the advantages it may have
over the others in natural commercial
OF in private donations for public good
and public benefit we are pleased to
as we'll as forced by honest convictions
to advocate the cause of Prairie Hayes
Cor Acadia Ciry as name proposed for
new town. for many and Welghty rea-
sons to-wit: first, that it is more cen
trallv located than either of the other
contending points, second, it is in the
midst of the most beautiful and most
fertile sections of the parish, or State,
now adapted to tn" successful and
profitable culture OF corn, cotton, sugar
caue, rice, tobacco, oats, sweet aud
irish potatoes, fine in quantity and
quality, peas in g+eat quantities, good
for food, for bay and as a fertilizer.
These and potatoes can be raised two
or more crops per year Vegetables
of every variety almost every month III
the wear, and fruits of almost every
kind and finest flavor; and in its ma
tive state one of the finest grazing sec
tons in tue United States, and suscep
tible of finest domesticated pastures
plenty of rainfall and natural water
ADD above all healthy. Thirdly we
believe it to be the point preferred by at
least two thirds Of the voters of the
parish unswayed by the corrupting in
hueuces of bribery; fancied political
promotion at the hands of the would be
powers, in this, and living in another
parish, together with sIttering promis-
eS to the common people which we
trust aud believe they will discover are
not gold, before the day of the election,
aud vote their true and honest convic-
tons for Prairie Hayes as the seat of
Justice; and thus preserve their pn'lt-
cal freedom promote their own best IN
ttrests aud that of the people as
whole invite distant and local emlsra-
t,ou to come and settle the beautiful,
these fertile lands while they can be
obtaiued for little money, and with
their families happy homes, homes of
peace and plenty; these with us will
I've able without hardship to replenish
the parish treasury and thus in time it
will he able ard willing in all public
| enterprises to extend ii liberal hand tor
| the public good. Thus progression Will
| chase progress comfort and happiness
will rear their monumental blessings
W lille wealth. will sit queen at the feast
| and grow beautiful and benehcent as
| plenty pours her sweet treasures into
! the lap OF luxury. For the benefit of
| those wno may not be advised as to the
| individual donations that have been
offered for the public benefit will state
| (if correctly informedD that the pro
! iected town of Crowley has offered the
sum of five thousand dollars; The
lnlle City OF Rayne her Railroad IA
ciIities and her present development
and enterprise, while the offer III be-
bali Of Prairie Hayes is eighty acres or
land adjoining the Court House square
the square of land for the Courthouse;
five thousand dollars in money, and
land free of charge for churches Of all
denominations regardless of color
and for public schools the same. And
in further advocacy of the cause OF
| Prairie Hayes | venture the opinion
that if orr friends and adherents OF
| Rayne and Crowley with appropriated
minds will calmly survey this matter III
all its bearings, present and future
they can but acknowledge that the To-
cation Of the Courthouse aud parish
seat in this central aud comparatively
undeloped portion of the parish will
aid more ia their future and perma-
neDt DEVELOPMENT than if it were in
their own limits. They with their To-
cal interests and Railroad facilities will
be inducements for settlement of thell
surrounding territory while the parish
seat centrally located will settle all this
large area of vacant land, thereby
develop the whole parish, creating the
necessary wealth and trade to build III
and sustain good towns, and defray thu
necessary expenses Of we'll organized
and managed parish government
These my friends believe you will see
and act wisely, laying aside local prejn
dices or preferences. For the furthe
epconra cement Of all having the goos
of the parish at heart will say that al
ready We are advised that the prolec
ton of Railroad through this section
is already talked of 10y tie wealthy ant
reliable men of Fort Worth Texas
(the live city of Railroad) from tina
point to New Orleans, the great com
mercial metropolis OF the south. Ant
| am fully satisfied that when the in
terested parties of both cities fully &C
quaint themselves with the grand ca
liabilities of the intervening countr,
under the favorable surroundir = the1
may offer in the development Il ma
terial wealth both in agricultural an.
tinh ered resources, they will not hest
tate at an early day to push the enter
prise TO successful completion.
Respectfully,